Sick... again ;_;

I've been on a little blog hiatus because I pretty much felt like dying this past weekend!! I got sick yet again... as if I thought I couldn't get any sicker!? On Thursday, I had these weird aches and pains in my back but I figured it was cause I was carrying the kids at work. But then when I got home, I started getting chills. I still didn't think much of it and thought it was due to the chilly weather outside. I had to go meet my mom that evening and started feeling weak and dizzy. Later that night I felt even worse and seriously thought I was going to like pass out. Well I go to my mama's house and decided to take my temperature since I felt like I was heating up a little bit. Well lo and behold, I had a temp of 101.4. I rarely ever get fevers so this was a surprise. I couldn't believe that I was sick again after I was still recovering from my other cold and had a long drawn out cough that I still have!! :::sigh::: when will it ever end? I guess that's what comes with working with kids. As much as I love my little kiddies at work.. I wonder if it's worth my health and all the stress that I go through everyday. Anyways, I've been pretty much resting and taking it easy all weekend.

Once I started recovering a little, I had enough energy to do some cooking. Yes even with the flu, I still somehow had my appetite lol. I've been really into cooking ever since Russ and I moved into our new place. I'll admit, at first I was terrified since me cooking usually results in disaster. In fact my first real meal that I cooked for Russ when we moved into our new place was almost inedible :X He almost banned me from the kitchen lol. Thankfully with lots of practice and nights of having to cook dinner for myself while Russ was at work, I got so much better :D And now it's an enjoyment rather than a chore. Even Russ will admit now that some of my dishes are pretty good :P Maybe I got some of my dad's natural cooking skillz inborn in me ;) Anyway, here are a few dishes I have made!

Made mentaiko pasta w/pork belly for Russ. My first attempt of mentaiko pasta was a fail cause I cooked it... but it's better eaten raw!! doh.

Arabiki & longanisa sausage pasta... yes I like Filipino sausages!!

Btw you know what's a cooking tool must have!??

A food chopper!! And not just any food chopper but the Zyliss food chopper!! This seriously works wonders. If you hate cutting onions like I do, then you will no longer have to worry cause the Zyliss chops it right up... tears free!!


See?


It even nicely chops up garlic :) Oh Zyliss, what would I do without you?


This is another dish I made today.. arabiki sausage potato salad. I've been using a lot of arabiki sausage because Russell bought a load of them from Nijiya market so I've been trying to think of different ways to use them.


Russell made this "arabiki donburi"... looks good right? Well it FAILED tremendously. Even Russ will admit to it. He made his own sushi rice and mixed it with mentaiko... PLUS spicy arabiki sauasage and tamago... bleck. At least we know now that sushi rice + mentaiko + arabiki don't go good together!!!!!!


Btw, this bread dipping mix is awesome. I actually got it at Ross (which I don't normally reccommend for buying food). But I would say this is pretty safe and it taste really good with just some olive oil & balsamic vinegar!


This is one of our fav late night snacks... french bread & dip.





This is random, but thought this was a super cute but eerie artsy pic of my kiddies I babysit :D


This is her *hmmph* face... gosh I love chubby babies don't you?

End of 2010 & Beginning of 2011 UPDATE~

So I guess my attempt to update my blog more has failed once again. I really was on a blogging streak at one point and blogged almost everyday! But of course, that didn't continue for very long because one, I got really busy with work, the holidays & just life in general and two, I was lazy. Plus I was still getting adjusted to my new life with the fiancé! Which btw, has been fun and great.. but definitely learned a lot about each other that we didn't know before (even after being together for 5 years!) It is nice though being able to wake up to him every morning and going to bed with him every night ♥ Anyways, my goal this year IS to blog more! Lately I've been really into Yelp. I seriously love Yelp cause it's real people writing real reviews so you know it's not bullcrap.. well most of the times at least. I even found my new hair dresser from Yelp! See I got a new hair cut =)
I almost feel like as if it was fate because I randomly decided at 7 in the morning to get my haircut but wanted to try someone new. I typed in "hair salons" on yelp and the first thing that popped up was Winam Hair Studio which was a minute away from me. I was like wow that's convenient AND Hillary (the hair dresser) had all 5 star reviews so I figured she must be good. Lucky for me she was available that morning and I was able to schedule an appt at 9AM! She gave me the "I can't stop looking at myself" haircut. I was so happy with the results. Finally a hairstylist that is able to cut my hair the way I want it!! She has her own private little studio and it's pretty much by appointments only. I feel like I found the jackpot!!

Anyways besides finding my new hair dresser... I also found THE perfect boots..

Thanks to Bamboo Sky =)

This past Christmas was Russell's and I first Christmas together in our new apartment. I decided I was feeling in the Christmas spirit and got our first Christmas tree!

Yes, of course a fake one. And yes, that's a BBQ ornament.. I just had to get it for Russell.

All my prezzies.. feeling a little *spoiled*

Unfortunately Russ was working on Christmas day so we decided to spend Christmas Eve together at his parents' house.. which btw I have not seen in years. So I was a tad bit nervous but dinner turned out great! His dad made a feast for us and I brought over my pathetic sausage stuffed mushrooms. Russell's dad actually made stuffed mushrooms too but it was clearly obvious that his was much better appearance and taste wise than mine. They were nice enough to compliment mines and in fact, liked the crunchiness of the sausages (in other words, I burnt it). Oh well at least I tried!

My chocolate peanut butter toffee turned out pretty amazing though!

Russell's dad prime rib

Yummy samosas!

Ally girl

On Christmas day I spent it at my mama's house. We had a Chinese feast... way more food than we needed!

Had this box awaiting for me when I got back to my apartment :)

From the hubbster!!! Yes I do love my Louis ;)

.... And it's initialed!

Been really into crepes lately. My friend Maiko & I have been on a crepe hunt. We discovered Harajuku Crepes at Shirokiya.

I must say these were pretty damn good crepes. Almost as good as the ones in Japan. But beware of the scary korean lady who is not so friendly....
Maiko & I will continue our crepe hunt.. but for now, Harajuku Crepes is the best we've tried so far.

My cooking has also gotten a lot better!

See! I have proof. Even my sister liked it and that's saying a lot.

My beef quesadilla

Pork belly fried rice and stir fried veggies.. I think even Russ likes my cooking but hates to admit it ;P

New Year's was pretty mellow this year. Russ & I decided to stay in since he had to wake up early the next morning for work.
My New Year's outfit...

My New Year's nails

Pop champaaagne!

Time for some bubbly~

Fireworks from our balcony


... as you can tell with this pic, I still don't have the iPhone4 :(

With the fambam on New Year's Day 2011 @New Otani Hotel... definitely not the same without grandpa :(

So I made a few New Year's resolutions and I am DETERMINED to accomplish it all within this year =)

1. To be on time and PLAN ahead of time.... in other words no more procrastination!! (This however, didn't go so well for my bday party haha... but will update you more on that another time).
2. Start wedding planning (I guess this goes along with the first one).
3. I should probably, however, figure our wedding date first!!!
4. Stop shopping every weekend and spend WISELY. Yes, I need to follow the footsteps of my friend Maiko who is a smart shopper and doesn't buy everything she sees in site like I do =)
5. To be a cleaning maniac like my fiancé. Normally in most relationships it would be the other way around... but in my case, Russ is the clean freak!! Not me.
6. Make a trip out to CA to see the BFF Sarah.
7. Make another trip out to Seattle to see the other BFF Chiri.
8. Save all my babysitting $$$ for the wedding.
9. Work out.
10. Brush up on my cooking skillz.

I have a few more.. but those are the main ones. Oh and not to stress out so much!!!! Cause I tend to do that to myself a lot =)

I was going to post some bday pics from my 25th bday party but this post took me forever. I'll leave that for another update =) Promise I won't take another 94758759838 million years to write up an update.

Hope you all had a wonderful new year~! Btw, new layout for the new year!!

P.S. This is my motto for the year...

Back at Don Quiote again

I swear I was only going there to pick up Worcestershire sauce (yeah try spelling that without spell check!!) and tobasco but ended up with a crapload of other things. I seriously could shop at Don Quiote for hours.

Anyways the reason I had to buy Worcestershire sauce & tobasco was because I was making my own tonkatsu sauce! Tonight was my first attempt to make that and chicken katsu. I was pretty satisfied with my katsu & the sauce.. Although the presentation could of been nicer. But oh well, it was my first try!!

3-DAY Weekend plan

You don't know how overjoyed I am for this coming 3-day weeking. Seriously, you don't. Work has been pretty hectic and just knowing that we actually have a Monday off (very rare), really makes me happy. Normally I'd work all week and then have to work, well actually babysit, on a Fri or a Sat. But this weekend I left my weekend completely free to do whatever want. I think I deserve it =)

So I planned out my whole weekend.

FRIDAY (TOMORROW):
Work 9am-6pm
Go home and get all dolled up
Dinner @Shokudo with the girlies (yay girls night!)
Next stop, First Fridays!
Then possibly another club after?? hmm who knows, we might be spontaneous and go somewhere random.

SATURDAY:
11am - Salon Glitter nail appt... still don't know what design I want yet.
Lunch date with Sascha & maybe some shopping.. err I mean browsing.
Reminder: need to find some cute flats & leggings for my JAPAN trip!!
Eyebrow wax
Check out Bamboo Sky... new arrivals are in! eep.. this could get dangerous.
Then mtg at night.

SUNDAY:
Russ & Vicki QT.
Dinner @RICHO (new Korean restaurant) with Tiff & Ian
Then after... who knows??

MONDAY:
Fambam time.
Possibly use my Heaven on Earth gift card that's been rotting in my bag. Hmm.. I could use a good massage ;)
Finish up portfolio.

JULY... A month to remember.

Since I suck at updating and don't want to type out a full long drawn out post about what's been going on in the past month in a half, I will update in pictures instead =)

My bestie Sarah left and went back home to CA =( I miss her tons.. seriously, she has been there with me through thick & thin. But I know we'll remain friends till the end.

Russell's 28th birthday was a success! I took him & my half-sis Tiffany and her bf to Azure. I actually had never been to that place before hand and was going by the reviews of Yelp. They were right.. this place is definitely worth the 4.5/5 stars.

Me & the birthday boy

Their filet mignon with foie gras just melted in our mouths.

Sorbet w/pop rocks! Probably their most interesting thing there. It's to cleanse the palate.

Russ also really liked his gift =) It's a Burberry ceramic watch.. yes I know, I'm pretty awesome. But so is he... and I think he deserved it. This & the dinner combined left my bank acct looking not so good lol.

On Sunday, July18, 2010... we got ENGAGED!!! Russell proposed to me while we were having brunch at the Hau Tree. About damn time right? I really thought he was going towait till our 5 year anniversary, but I guess he couldn't wait any longer. It did, however, catch me by suprise which is good cause I wanted to be suprised! If you're all wondering if I cried. No, I didn't because I was too mesmerized by the sparkly diamond ring in that little black box hehe. No wedding date set yet.. but after we find a place and get settled in, we will have a good idea when our wedding will be.

The Ring.

In not so good news, my grandpa passed away July 25, 2010... exactly a week from my engagement. Definitely a shocker for everyone because we didn't see this coming. But we know that he lived a fulfilling life and he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. He was seriously, the best grandfather anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for everything. We will miss you...

My cousin Emerson also came to visit from CA to see my grandpa one last time. Don't worry he doesn't normally look like this. It was fun catching up with him and hanging out since we rarely get to see him. Had some pretty good laughs with him.

Took my grandma & my mom to their very "first" pedicure. Well they've actually had pedicures but it was like 50billion years ago. They loved it though.. I think I got them hooked. Seriously, pedicures are a great way to relax without having to spending a fortune and at the same time make your toes look nice & pretty.

Cutest kids ever. Also the kids that I babysit. I've been doing that a lot... I would say almost every weekend or every other weekend. But I really don't mind.. I love my kids plus it's a great way to make extra cash on the side =)

Russ & I also celebrated our 5 year anniversary (8.12.10) at BLT Steak. Can't believe we actually made it this far haha. It's been a journey to get where we are at but I am in a very happy place with him. I look forward to many many more years with him.

Btw, their popover is to die for. I normally don't even like popovers.. or at least not at the ones at Mariposa. But the one at BLT.. OMG!.. is sooo good. It has grated gruyere cheese baked in it which makes it even more orgasmic. And the bread is so nice & fluffy. Mmm.. with butter & salt.. so good! What's great is they give you a recipe card with it so you can bake it yourself. I think I may just have to do that.

Yeah we were pretty full & drunk by the end of the night.

I got to play catch up sesh with Sascha & her sister Selena. We went to Hot Pot Heaven since we were in a hot pot mood but didn't feel like waiting in the long ass line for Sweet Home Cafe. Although Hot Pot Heaven was pretty good and a lot cleaner and less of a wait, I would still say I prefer Sweet Home Cafe. Plus Hot Pot Heaven is a bit pricier and they don't give the free big bowl of shave ice like Sweet Home Cafe does =(

*****************

So that pretty much sums up what's been going on. Oh well, I forgot to mention I went on a big shopping spree the other day with Sasch... and actually I went a week before that too. *sigh* I know, I'm bad. But I found a lot of cute finds!! I will post pics later when I'm not so lazy/tired. I must mention though that I am in love with American Apparel. The funny thing is I used to despise that store just because it reminded me too much of the 80's with the whole spandex and super high waisted pants. But, I realized that after going in there last weekend, I found a lot of things that I was looking for... such as the one sided off the shoulder tops and comfy leggings. Ohhh and I can't forget my cute purple shorts. Yes, purple!! I love them =) Great summer pants. Anyways, that is all for now. I am off to bed. I promise not to wait so long to update again.

Oyasumi!